Any tips for Cuba ?

Daisey-Duke

Hi all,
were off to Cuba in November and would appreciate some good advice.

Has anyone been? Were going to Guarda la vaca.

We were going to go back to Barbados but changed our minds.

Found a great deal with teletext holidays. £355 each and is allinclusive, I think thats what swung it for us :beer:

Any help would be great

Thanks

Incapuppy

Guardalava is beautiful, as is the rest of Cuba.

I think there are quite a few threads on Cuba already on here if you do a search.

Have a great time.

Saint_Chris

Which hotel are you staying in.

Daughter has just come back.

If you go over to tripadvisor and look at there forums you will find loads of useful information

Daisey-Duke

Were staying at Brisas Guardavalaca .

I forgot about Tripadvisor, thanks.

I did do a search on the forum but only found things regarding how to book there and prices.
I'm looking for advice on tipping, travel , do's and don'ts ect

Saint_Chris

You need to join the forums, and maybe search through some of the pages.

Try sending a message to

LoonyLou i think that she has stayed there.

Daughter was booked into the hotel nextdoor but because of building work in her hotel, she was moved.

Just go on the forum and ask for whatever you want to know. There a great bunch of folks.

Daughter did the swimming with dolphins and she said it was worth every penny.

jonesMUFCforever

Take Euros!
I know that sounds daft but is one of the official currencies that you can exchange there.

Saint_Chris

Daughter took english money and it was widely accepted everywhere.

But your notes do have to be crisp clean notes. so she went in the bank and asked for new notes.

Saint_Chris

If you live in the UK take Sterling - English new notes only

If you live in Europe take euros.

Just avoid taking US as i'm sure you are well aware of, as there not accepted, neither are american express credit cards.

exchange some money at cuba airport when you get there for tips and stuff.

Daisey-Duke

Saint - Chris you are a


great advice from everyone, thanks

Saint_Chris

Oh i love that.

I did a bit of research for my daughter when she was going to the hotel next door to yours, before it was changed.

So i'll tell you what i remember.

Next door to your hotel, is a market which each day has different stall holders. Best time to go is later on in the afternoon, when you will get a better deal with the vendors.

Also the becah at the hotel club amigo atlantico, which is next door to your hotel has a public beach. And on a night the locals hold beach parties. A lot of tourists visit this. And you can buy your beer from vendors for next to nothing. Daughter was looking forward to going here.

There is also near where your staying a housing estate for locals with a school. A good thing to take is pens and pencils for the kids. And the schools welcome you to visit them and give your things out to the kids.

Daughter went on the dolphin trip, and said it was the best thing that she had done.

Some important things you should take.

Mosquito spray, as they are rife in cuba. make sure the one you get it tropical and has deet in it. Daugher bought tesco's own which was 50% deet. And she also bought a plug in oil burner, which was by tropical jungle, £5.99 in Morrissons.

She also took a good first aid kit, especially imodium, just incase.

A cheap snorkle as they are free on the beaches, but there are not a lot of them, and it is a 1st come 1st served.

Andrex and she heard that the toilet roll was a bit hard in cuba.

i told my daughter not to bring anything home that she didnt' want. Even clothes.

As cuba is a 3rd world country these things are hard to come by.
But maids and gardeners have a great job, as a lot of tourists give there left-overs (so to speak) to these people.

Daughter took her stuff the day before to a local market and gave it away to the stall holders.

I'm a avon rep and had loads of samples and bits n bobs in a box. And i sorted out a goodie bag for her to take.

medicine is hard to come by in cuba and i bought cheap paracetamol and told daughter to give these away.

Daisey-Duke

Thats great, i shall stock up on the pencils and paper. I to dabble with selling make-up but not avon so I have a few bits to take.
You have been a fantastic help and have made me look forward to the trip even more.